The Federal Government says it is developing a national Halal framework that will introduce a Quick Response (QR)-based certification system for Nigerian products to facilitate traceability and access to international markets.
News Agency of Nigeria reported on Sunday that the Special Assistant to the President on Export Expansion, Mr Aliyu Sheriff, disclosed this in an interview with its correspondent on the sidelines of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
Sheriff, who is also the Secretary of the Nigeria Halal Economy Strategy Implementation Committee, said the framework would establish standards for certification, accreditation and traceability.
He added that it would help international buyers verify the source and compliance of Nigerian products.
“We want to have our own Halal mark where you have a QR based code on it, so that for every export that goes out, it is normal to scan and trace back the product to the factory of origin,” he said.
He said Nigeria needed to establish a credible Halal certification structure to enable its businesses to compete effectively in the international market.
According to him, the government’s strategy is built around four pillars: Islamic finance, Halal compliance, market access, capacity development, and infrastructure development.
Sheriff added that the compliance component would focus on standardisation, accreditation and technology, while the market access pillar would help Nigerian businesses connect with international markets.
“We need to have a structure in place in terms of standardisation and accreditation and also embed technology into it. Everything is going digital now,” he said.
He said Nigeria was seeking to learn from countries with established Halal ecosystems, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, while developing a framework suited to the Nigerian environment.
“Malaysia is the number one Halal-developed nation globally, so we need to have partnerships with them,” he said.
Sheriff said the government also planned to strengthen the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to meet international requirements in areas such as standardisation and packaging.
He stressed that the Halal economy should not be viewed exclusively as a Muslim market, noting that its principles also covered quality, safety, ethics and sustainability.
“The concept of Halal extends beyond its Islamic origins. It embodies ethics, integrity and universal values that resonate across cultures and regions,” he said.
